The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1887-12-31

MTA0NNI0U a 4
IN. thc democratic party has not had c0uss~
II both the Legislative end Eseeussve aepsrv
u,erts Of me Government for single esS, nm
hrs il. aimee that date, had eeHtses Of posn
brnnches Of the Legislative aspsf.mens
n tho satss simes ~ sen eet sherv'
fore, 10 Justly teid fsspsns'pss . s'ssss
rc,,cv under which tAls great iHeFssss o. ~
penditures was inangMFated sHd #Alrssisees
Wsth tho oppo sttion Of Republican eeentes
shs Y,emocrutio Yleuse Of Representatives. bss
20 far been unable either 70 fspesl o. amss y.
existing laws, or properly 70 enftsM espea. as
lures under them; and slthoum we pt .s -.
tention 10 details IN s6sstins very eonsidershls
SAVING in many branches Of tins peblic SELVES.
the negrcrate IL still much too large. ana cnens
- be further reduced. uvt this can % cons
only by legislation, and u the task v intenv
gently performed, upon definite syslem ~
plan which somprehends the whole subject, sns
expenditures will be greatly diminished, Ana ~
the snmc time the efficiency Of the public scrv'
ice win be materially promoted. There 70 nov
TOO much machinery for the work TO % ooncs |
and too many engineers In charge OF .. Tnere
are too many bureaus, divisions nud supdivb
sions In and about the various Departments.
ana too little concentration OF labor ana omcia'
responsibility. This compHcases ano conIuses
the operatious Of the Government ana MAKES
the transaction.of the public business tedious
and annoying to the people, and at the ssms
time Il compels the retention OF many omciam
and employees whose services might osnerwiss
be dispensed with
There 10 no reason TO believe that tho 10
publican party would make, or attempt M
make. any substantial reduction OF expendf
tures s,r live its support to this necessary 70
form in the public service. IL could NOT oc
either without repudiating it, past policy ano
undoing its own work.
II wc look beyond the ordinary outlay iof
the support Of tho Government and CONSIDER
the general course OF the two parties IN rela.
ton 70 the appropriation and expenditure Oh
tho uublic money for other purposes, the DIFF.
| ference between them II, II possible, stu mors
Important In tho matter Of pensions espe
| cially, the Republican party, In and ous OF Con
eresa has thoroughly committed itself TO
policy which, II carried out, would baukrups the
country, or, at the very least, subject the PEG
pie 70 burden Of taxation that would se',o lousy
cripple and embarrass all their NOUS
tries. While IL 10 Just and polite
that . Government Ike ours, which
maintains no large standing army, should
grant liberal pensions to its wounded ana ais
| abled soldiers ana sailors, and 70 the WIDOWS
and dependent relatives Of those who have oieo.
the rights and interests OF the great body OF TINS
neonle. Who nav the taxes, carry ON the indus
tries and develop the resources OF the country
should not be entirely disregarded. Already
the United States are expendfng annually, on
account OF military and naval pensions, more
than Is paid BY all the other Governments IN
the world combned; and a. time passes ano
conditions change-as old age ana oisoase ovcr
take the survivors Of the late war. ana inc
wealth Of the country worcestershire benefits OF
the law viii be extended and tho allowances
auRmcntod until finally oil who can snow
reasonable term Of service and an honorable
discharge will receive the generous aid OF the
Government This policy 10 not only right 10
ITSELF but 1t accords with the past course OF the
Government toward the soldiers Of other warss
and no public man Of either party sshould op'
nose II But there 10 . limit to the tax-payino
power of the people, and the real friend OF the
soldier-uot the nero politician who II seeking
votes 1T the expense OF the pupii<
treasury, but the responsible legislator
I who foresees tho consequence OF mn
, action and wants justice done to all classes
|, win proceed slowly and cautiously in . matte;
involving such vital interests. Tho Republican
| marty il in NO proper condition TO control logis
. lation upon this subject It can not halt with
out violating its pledges to the soldiers, ana y
can not proceed without doing an irreparaoi'
wrong to the taxpayer.
, | The Democratic party has always been tn
/ | friend of the navy and the merchant marine
: | and 30 long a. II remained In power the Ameri
J | can nag was displayed ON every sea ana u
every commercial port. Scventy-hvc years ~
' when the Republic was In its infancy, our snip
: Of war won imperishablo rcnown In the comic
| with Great Britain, the boasted mistress OF tn
{ | seas, and up TO tho beginning Of the late CIV
!. war more than three fourths Of our foreign com
: commerce was carried in our own vessels
L Now! after twenty-four hours Of Republics
a domination, We have no naval establishment
{ worthy OF the namc, and scarcely more tina
8 one-seventh part Of our foreign carrying trad
|, IL done by American shtps. IN
d mere appropriation ana expenditure O mone
4 had been oil that was necessary, the HepuDh'
II an party rs thoroughly Demonstrated IL qua
+ incat ion for the task, but unfortunately all y
L efforts to secure . navy without either ouiioln
II or buying vessels have s'gnally failed. Nc
was IL any more successful In IT, attempts
, increase foreign commerce and revive the g
l. rying TRADE BY paying subsidies and pouns's
), out Of the treasury. The paralyzing innuenct
'. of bsrbsrous navigation laws can mot b oov
d ated by such artificial stimulsnts.
X Free ships and liberal laws for the reguIatic
n Of trade instead of restricting legislation ~
10 unfricndly taxation, woulo do moro IN e
N years to restore our merchant marine ana y
y crease our commerce with South Amcncs %
T. other parts of the world than was accor
IN | pl,shed during all the time the Republics
,e party had charge Of the Government Cor
b. merciaI treaties, while they riay be desirab
n | under peculiar circumstances, nro general
D. moro favorable to one party than the othe
q ana are therefore frequently unjust Beside
a. they grant exclusive privileges and mil
Or improper and offensive Dissemination
o against other friendly nations, thus pr
IL yolxin4 spirit Of retaliation upon the
IN part which may greatly injure the interests
re our citizens abroad IA o general rule. gre
le power like the United States should always !
n tain absolute control over its own AFFAIRS q
re not embarrass itself by commercial or 9th
I'd alliances with foreign Governments We M
"A a. A.. <,,- ann voer w4fhout harQafuiuQ O.
of sultina With any other nation. 70 adopt poll
ID which win insure domestic tranquility, exteI
" our commerce, create new and profitable mi
y, kets for our products. revive our ship-cuildi
at ana ship-owning interests. and infuse new II
he and energy into every department Of tndustl
or It IL the Democratic policy Of low taxatit
st economy in the Administration Of public ANAL